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(No Model.) 2. Sheets-Sheet 1. H. ETHERIDGE. BALANGED PEN FORAUTOGRAPHIGTELEGRAPHS.

No. 425,066. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY ETHERIDGE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WRITINGTELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BALANCED PEN FOR AUTOGRAPHIC TELEGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,066, dated April 8,1890.

Application filed October 11, 1888. Serial No. 287,796. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY ETHERIDGE, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have i11- vented a certain new and usefulBalanced Pen for Autographic Telegraphs, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to fountainpens for use in connection withthe transmitting-stylus or receiving-rod of an autographic telegraph.

The invention has for its object the devising of a fountain-pen which,when in operationiwill maintain a minimum pressure on the paper writtenupon and a pressure that will be uniform and not Variable.

A further object is to produce a pen having the characteristics statedwhich operates upon the principle of capillary attraction.

My invention will now be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this description, and the subject-matterfor which protection by Letters Patent is desired will be specified atthe end of this specification.

I11 the drawings, in which like features are indicated by like figuresof reference in the several views, Figure 1 is avertical sectional Viewof a fountain-pen nib embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is asideelevation of the pen-nib disconnected from the reservoir, but connectedwith the transmitting-stylus or receiving-rod. Fig. 3 is a top plan viewof the pen-nib. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the pennib on the line 0000of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the point of the pen-nib. Fi 6is a top plan view showing the reservoir and means for shielding thesame, hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 3y of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a top plan view through the line 2 z of Fig. '7.Fig. 9 is a detail showing the construction of the opening for fillingthe friction-chamber, and Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line 10 w ofFig. 0.

Referring now to Sheet 1 of the drawings, containing Figs. 1 to 5, thepen-nib is indicated by 11 and will be essentially of the form shown,with a vertical limb which is adapted to dip into the reservoir 12 andwith a curved limb in whose outer end the point 13, of platinum or otherhard suitable material not subject to corrosion or wear, is secured. Thepen-nib 11 is preferably madeof ebonite, and is adapted to convey theink to the surface written upon on the principle of capillaryattraction. In the top of the curved member of pen-nib 11 there isformed anarrow open duet, (best shown in Fig. 3,) which extends to thebottom of its vertical member, and through this duct theink passes tothe point 13. The point 13 is preferably of the form shown in Figs. 4and 5, is provided with a central duct, as shown, and is secured inplace by springingit into the duct formed in the pennib, its shape beingsuch as to make that practicable. Preferably on the bottom surface ofthe curved member of pennib 11 there is formed or attached a weight M,which is so proportioned with reference to the weight of the verticalmember of the pen-nib in the fluid as to balance the pen-nib in suchmanner as to keep its point always resting on the paper with a minimumdegree of pressure, thus insuring a minimum and uniform amount offriction between the point of the nib and the surface written. upon. Thepivot 15, whereby the socket 16 of the transmittingstylus orreceiving-rod is secured to the pennib 11, is located, as shown,approximately in a central position 011 the under surface of the curvedmember of the nib. By this means the balanced condition of the pen willnot be disturbed in manipulating the stylus or receiving-rod, and thenib is free to swing or vibrate as it partakes of the movements of saidstylus or rod. W'ashers a a serve to prevent the pen from. rubbingagainst the sides of socket 16.

Referring now to Sheet 2 of the drawings, showing Figs. 0 to 10, thestand or case which contains the autographic writing apparatus isindicated by 18, and 19 designates the usual opening through which thestylus or rod projects. The paper to be written upon is indicatcd by 20,and it is so arranged as to pass from the reel (not shown) throughlongitudinal slot 21, made in stand 18, thence through the inclined slot22, and along the surface of the table as the pen moves over it. Screwedto the top of the table in proper relation to slot 21 and opening 19there is a frame 23, preferably circular and of metal and provided witha vertically-projecting flange 24. This frame is adapted to receive thedome 25, which serves to shield the pen and the inkreservoir from dustand protect them from interference. Upon the table 18, within the spacecovered by said dome and in proper relation to the opening 19, throughwhich the rod or stylus which supports the pen-nib projects, there isarranged the ink-reservoir 12, into which the vertical member of thepennib 11 dips, as indicated in Fig. 1. The frame 23 is provided with aslot 26, through which the paper passes from beneath the dome as itleaves the pen. Beneath stand 18 there is secured air-tight by means ofscrews 27, a receptacle 28, of ebonite and of the form shown, with anopening 29 in the center of its bottom, having vertical walls 30, whichextend within said receptacle a sufficient distance to form afriction-chamber 31. This chamber contains a quantity of fluid, intowhich projects the vertical walls of the German silver float 32, whichlatter is secured to the stylus or rod 17, which carries the pen-nib, bymeans of brass piece 33, soldered or otherwise secured to said float andstylus or rod. The chamber 31 is replenished through the openin gin itsside, which is closed by the ebonite plug 34:. (Shown in detail in Fig.9.) Between the ebonite receptacle 28 and the table 18, and between theframe 23 and said table, soft rubber 35 may be employed as a packing, asindicated.

Instead of slots 21 and 22 in the table, I may make aslot, as 36,opposite slot 26 in the frame 23 and allow the paper to passtherethrough.

The function of fioat 32, which is connected to stylus or rod 17, is setforth in the United States patent granted to Robertson, No. 353,593. Thechamber of the float in the present instance is secured air-tight to theunder side of table 18 to prevent dust, &c., from collecting within thedome through opening 19.

The advantages incident to the herein-described construction of thepen-nib 11 are cheapness, ease of cleaning, and the avoidance of thenecessity of withdrawing the nib when the pen is required to berefilled.

I am aware of the patents granted to J. II. Robertson, Nos. 353,592 and353,593, but what is therein shown and described I do not claim.

Having thus described my invention,whatl claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fountain-pen nib provided with a capillary duct extending from endto end, pivoted on a suitable support, and having its writingpoint limbmade slightly heavier than the other, whereby said limb may rest on thepa per with a slight and uniform pressure, substantially as described.

2. The combination,-with the receiving stylus or rod of an autographictelegraph, of a fountain-pen nib pivoted to said rod and having itswriting-point limb made slightly heavier than the other, and a reservoirseparate from the nib, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 21st day of September, A. D. 1888.

HARRY ETHERIDGE. iVitnesses:

J. J. KENNEDY, J. E. M. BOWEN.

